Gate control



p 16, 1953 F. w. WOELFLINGI 2,851,720

' GATE CONTROL Filed Sept. 6, 1955 ilnited States Patent GATE CONTROL Fred W. Woelfiing, New Dorp, N. Y.

Application September 6, 1955, Serial No. 532,447

2 Claims. (Cl. 1649) This invention relates to gate and door closers and the like, and particularly to a device that I prefer to term a gate control.

The main object of my invention is to provide a gate or door with closing means that tends to close the door or gate gently but positively and retain the gate closed against wind and accidental contact therewith by children as a safety measure and convenience.

Another object of my invention is to provide a gate with a closing means that virtually forms a gate closer which operates, however in such manner as to avoid slamming the gate.

A further object of this invention is to equip a gate with a control device which is simple in construction and simple to make at a reasonable price in order to encourage wide adoption and distribution on the market.

Still another object of the invention is to have a gate control device as already outlined which is simple to install and also simple to use, and not likely to get out of order.

A practical object of my invention is to have such a gate control device that allows a gate to swing more than 90 open without strain on the gate, hinge or any other part, yet is effective to keep the gate closed although it will easily open for a child when intentionally opening it.

Other objects and advantages will appear in greater detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure l is an exploded perspective view of the parts making up the gate control device embodying my invention in a practical form; and

Figure 2 is a plan view in section showing the invention assembled and in operative position on a gate.

In these views, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts and features.

The yard or farm gate is frequently a source of'trouble in several ways, for either the gate tends to swing with the wind or swings open, and slams and otherwise is more or less effective to serve as a safe closure. This has long been a problem and calls for a remedy without abolishing the gate. Upon considering this problem, it has occurred to me that a special. control device should be available for connection to the gate and to the gate post whereby the gate is normally held closed with resilient yielding action when the gate is pushed inwardly from outside, and which will then return it to normal closed position. As a result, I have succeeded in producing a gate control device along the lines already mentioned, which will now be described in detail in the following. Hence, in the practice of my invention, and referring also again to the drawing, a hollow cylinder 3 is provided with a pair of lugs 4, 4 by which this cylinder is secured by screws 5 to a gate post 6 (Figure 2). As seen in the latter view, the cylinder has a closed rear end 7 and contains a compression spring 8 having the head 9 of an operating plunger 10 pressing against the same and tending to keep it under compression.

The outer projecting end 11 of this plunger has an aperture 12 through which extends the bent end 13 of a bolt 14 having a long thread 15 thereon and extending through a border portion of the gate frame 16. This bolt is secured to the gate by two nuts 17, 17 with washers 18, 18 between the washers and the wood of the gate, ensuring that the bolt will remain in place and will not work loose. The hinges of the gate are omitted for clarity in making the parts of the invention stand out sharply to be seen by themselves.

When the gate 16 is pushed open, the end or hook 13 will allow the spring 8 to become compressed and plunger 10 to ride inwards in the cylinder to a limited extent toward the rear closed end 7, and the pressure of the spring against head 9 of the plunger will tend to shift the gate back to closed position with the consequent limited lengthening or expansion of the spring which thus forms the main cause of the closing movement effected' upon the gate. As such, the bent end 13 is loosely mounted in the aperture 12 and slightly rocks the plunger 10 during the opening of the gate. The spring will also tend to keep the gate closed by resisting compression.

The device is thus simple and easy to install and use.

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to, and parts and features may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A gate control device for a gate having a gate post, comprising hook means adapted to be secured to said gate, a horizontal hollow cylinder closed at one end and adapted to be secured to said gate post and having a compression spring therein, said spring being seated at one end in engagement with said closed end of said cylinder, a horizontally slidable member disposed within said cylinder and seated at one end on the other end of said spring and removably secured to said hook means at the other end thereof, said hook means comprising a horizontal leg extending perpendicularly relative to the axis of said slidable member and said spring, said horizontally slidable member including a plunger having a head slidable within the cylinder against one end of the spring and having an aperture in the outer end extending from the cylinder through which the horizontal leg is extended to interconnect said hook means and said plunger, said head being of the same size as said cylinder, the periphery of said head being engaged with the inside surface of said cylinder.

2. A gate control device according to claim 1, wherein the hook means comprises a bolt with a bent end secured to a portion of the gate adjacent to the gate post and having a thread thereon with a pair of nuts mounted on the thread and disposed upon opposite sides of said gate portion to grip the latter therebetween and fix said hook means to said gate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 128,891 King July 9, 1872 1,258,451 Pezdir Mar. 5, 1918 2,030,324 Schmidt Feb. 11, 1936 2,708,286 Tollefson May 17, 1955 

